A British Lions tour row is breaking out in Australia after rugby chiefs down-under unveiled plans to keep star players out of showpiece midweek matches.

A British Lions tour row is breaking out in Australia after rugby chiefs down-under unveiled plans to keep star players out of showpiece midweek matches.

Super Rugby sides Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs are challenging the Australian Rugby Union over plans to quarantine Wallabies players three weeks before the Lions test series.

Coach Robbie Deans plans to keep his players locked away in a training camp for up to three weeks before the June 22 first test – keeping the international stars out contention for the Lions' midweek clashes with the Reds and Waratahs.

Two weeks before the first test, Warren Gatland’s Lions will play Queensland Reds at the Suncorp Stadium and the inclusion of stars like Will Genia, Quade Cooper, James Horwill and Digby Ioane would guarantee a full house.

Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is putting his foot down, arguing the state sides had already compromised by allowing their top players to attend preceding Wallabies camps, including this week's logistics camp where Queensland sent 16 of the 49 which assembled in Sydney.

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